Band 5.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 5.5 · Cambridge IELTS 21 · 2026-09-06

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The diagram below shows how one type of desert, known as a rain-shadow desert, is formed.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

The formation of rain-shadow deserts

Student answer (Band 5.5)

The diagram illustrates how one type of desert, known as a rain-shadow desert, is formed on a mountain. The formation of a rain-shadow desert depends on several steps, and each step is connected to the next step. This procedure clarifies how the wind approaches the coast, and turns into dry winds. Furthermore, the land and the mountain are thousands of kilometres apart.

A rain shadow is formed on mountains that are located near the sea. The coast basically exists between the sea and the mountain. Consequently, firstly, wind approaches the coast, and then the wind is pushed upwards to the mountain. After this, moist air rises and cools on the windward side, so clouds form for the rainfall, and rainfall starts on the mountain. Now comes the sixth step of the procedure, which is that the dry air continues over the mountain, and those dry winds reach the inland areas.

AI examiner evaluation

Task Achievement / Task Response — Band 5.5

The response addresses the task by describing the formation of a rain-shadow desert. However, the coverage is somewhat superficial. While the student mentions the wind and rainfall, the explanation lacks detail regarding the specific stages shown in the diagram, such as the cooling of air as it rises or the specific contrast between the windward and leeward sides. The summary is quite brief and misses the opportunity to highlight the key contrast between the wet windward side and the arid leeward side effectively. To improve, ensure all key features of the diagram are clearly explained rather than just listed.

Coherence and Cohesion — Band 5.5

The response is organized into two paragraphs, which is appropriate for a short summary. The use of cohesive devices like 'Consequently', 'firstly', and 'After this' helps to guide the reader through the sequence of events. However, the progression of ideas is somewhat mechanical. The transition between the introduction and the body paragraph is a bit abrupt, and the final sentence feels slightly disconnected from the overall flow. Improving the variety of linking words and ensuring that each sentence builds logically upon the previous one would enhance the coherence of the report.

Lexical Resource — Band 5.5

The vocabulary is adequate for the task but remains quite basic. Phrases like 'several steps' and 'procedure' are used, but they do not demonstrate a wide range of academic or technical vocabulary related to geography or meteorology. There is some repetition of words like 'wind' and 'mountain'. To reach a higher band, you should incorporate more precise terminology such as 'precipitation', 'moisture-laden', 'leeward side', or 'arid conditions' to describe the process more accurately and professionally.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy — Band 5.5

The response uses a mix of simple and complex sentence structures. While the grammar is generally clear and communication is not impeded, there are some awkward phrasings, such as 'The coast basically exists between the sea and the mountain' and 'Now comes the sixth step of the procedure'. These structures feel slightly unnatural for an academic report. There are few major errors, but the range of grammatical structures is limited. Incorporating more varied sentence beginnings and complex clauses would demonstrate better control and flexibility.

See this exact question answered at other band scores — the same prompt compared across bands.

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